We believe that all children have the right to food, clothing, housing, education, medical care, property and personal privacy.
Florida’s laws, policies and practices respect, prioritize and protect children and youth impacted by the child welfare, juvenile justice, and disability systems.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Navigating the child welfare system can be challenging for many kids, whether they’re adopted or in foster care. A statewide
Geori Seldine, Executive Director of Florida’s Children First Florida’s Children First (FCF), an award-winning non-profit organization that advocates for positive systemic changes to improve children’s
Adoption attorney Maria Bates, members of Florida Youth SHINE, and an adoptive mom will explore the importance of maintaining connections to birth family for youth adopted from state care. The session will prepare participants to facilitate…
Review the 10 primary duties for children’s attorneys and explain the lived experience perspectives that shaped each one. Special focus will be given to areas that pose the greatest potential for the field (ex. sharp increase in out of-court client contact)…
What is the best way to represent minors in Florida’s child welfare system? A pilot program that would have given foster kids their own attorneys
As foster parents licensed by Florida’s Department of Children and Families, my wife and I are directly responsible for meeting critical day-to-day needs of the
Children’s week came to an end Wednesday at the Florida State Capitol but new relationships and paths are just getting started. Tuesday night, youth-led foster
‘Hopefully, (this is) clearing up a lot of the bureaucracy and just making sure they live a better life.’ Bipartisan legislation that would break down
Florida’s vulnerable children deserve better than a rush job, writes a children’s advocate. Whoa! The Florida Department of Children and Families needs to slow down.
Don’t let the debate over child services, resources and governance fall victim to a rush job. The Florida Department of Children and Families is expected
Three agencies on Wednesday made presentations to state officials hoping to win the $80 million foster care contract for Pinellas and Pasco counties. None are
This training is geared to attorneys who have or may be asked to finalize an adoption from foster care. It will also be useful for others in the system who want to know what should be happening in adoption finalizations. Topics include…
DCF and CBC lead agencies have a fiduciary duty to protect the funds of children in state care and to ensure that they are used for their short and long term needs…
The state has more than 6,000 children in foster care 12+ HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — As the debate rages on over how to protect children
This training is geared to attorneys who have or may be asked to finalize an adoption from foster care. It will also be useful for others in the system who want to know what should be happening in adoption finalizations. Topics include…
FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach)
Hello, My name is Alexia Nechayev. I am 25 years old and I am an alumna of Florida International University where I received my B.A. in Psychology. My future career goal is to be a Lawyer. I was in care for about one year from age 17 to 18. Prior to entering care, I only knew about the negative stigma regarding foster care and while in care that narrative was unfortunately my experience.
In school I felt like I was on display because my status in care was broadcast to other students and in my placement behavior was leveraged for “privileges” that should be a natural right of all children. Because I did not know my rights I did not know that what I was experiencing was wrong. Today this is exactly why I advocate, because I don’t want this to be the same for other youth who are experiencing foster care.
This is my second year on the FYS Statewide Board and I’m happy to be the Events and Meetings Chair this year because my main goal through advocacy is to reach as many people as possible. My favorite thing as a board member is to see how comfortable members become while working together. The community needs to know that youth in foster care are real people, going through some of the hardest moments of their life and youth need to know that their voice is powerful. I believe that we have to speak up and bring these issues to people’s attention so that they do not forget us. Advocacy, education and consistency is the only way.
